Tumor necrosis factor stimulated gene 6 (TSG-6) binding molecules

Abstract

TSG-6 protein and functional derivatives thereof, DNA coding therefor, expression vehicles, such as plasmids, and host cells transformed or transfected with the DNA molecule, and methods for producing the protein and the DNA are provided, as well as antibodies specific for the TSG-6 protein; a method for detecting the presence of TSG-6 protein in a biological sample; a method for detecting the presence of nucleic acid encoding a normal or mutant TSG-6 protein; a method for measuring induction of expression of TSG-6 in a cell using either nucleic acid hybridization or immunoassay; a method for identifying a compound capable of inducing the expression of TSG-6 in a cell; and a method for measuring the ability of a cell to respond to TNF.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A molecule comprising an antigen binding region of an antibody which binds specifically to an epitope of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       2. The molecule of claim  1  which is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
       3. A method for detecting in a biological sample the presence of the tumor necrosis factor-induced protein TSG-6 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, comprising: 
       (a) contacting said biological sample that is suspected of containing said TSG-6 protein with a molecule capable of binding specifically to an epitope of SEQ ID NO:2; and  
       (b) detecting any of said molecule bound to said epitope.  
     
     
       4. The method of claim  3 , wherein said molecule is one which comprises an antigen-binding region of an antibody which binds to an epitope of TSG-6. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  4 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.